Students with perfect scores but were not offered places in medical courses in Universiti Sains Malaysia could have failed the admission interview, said the apex university’s vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Omar Osman.
He was responding to an allegation by MCA education bureau chairman Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong that there were students with cumulative grade point average of 3.92 and 3.7 who were offered dentistry courses while other top scorers with CGPA of 4.0 were not given any offers.
“We will look into the appeal cases. Special consideration will be given to them if there are places left from other students rejecting their offers,” Prof Omar said, adding that students should appeal directly to USM.
An official from USM confirmed that a student with CGPA of 4.0 was not offered a place in medicine because he only obtained a low band in the Malaysian University English Test.
Wing to lower age limit of members, from 45 to 40, for those who wish to contest party posts
KUALA LUMPUR: DATUK Dr Wee Ka Siong will not be defending his position as MCA Youth Chief after the wing's central committee decided yesterday to lower the age limit of members who wish to contest in the coming party elections from 45 to 40.
Speaking to reporters after chairing a MCA Youth central committee meeting at the party's headquarters, Wee, who turns 45 this year, said members of the committee had unanimously decided to lower the age limit in an effort to reinvigorate the party wing.
"We talked about it and we agreed that there must be a drastic change. MCA Youth members who want to contest must be aged 40 and below. Last time, the age limit was set at 45 and below," he said.
When asked whether he was going to vie for a top position in the party, Wee said: "I have no plans right now."
He said with the new age limit in place, several MCA Youth office-bearers, including his deputy Dr Mah Hang Soon and himself, would not be defending their positions in the coming elections as they were overaged.
MCA Youth chief Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong has declared that he would do his best to defend the Ayer Hitam parliamentary seat.
Saying that he had been campaigning until he lost his voice, Dr Wee said: “Last night I had to campaign at 16 places and then I was here at 10.15 this morning.”
Dr Wee, who was at the launch of Malaysia's first Chrome Lab at SJKC Choong Wen yesterday, spoke to reporters in a hoarse voice.
He stressed that he would take all challenges in stride, saying: “I will face it. I am not nervous.”
“All I can say is that I will try my best. The rakyat are the masters who will determine my fate,” he added.
He also said that this was not the time to make accusations or indulge in character assassination.
“We are willing to discuss the best ways to help the people,” he said.
Attendees jeer at Wee (centre) during the Chinese educationists rally in Kajang, March 25, 2012
MCA risks a worse showing at the coming polls than in 2008 for its poor handling of the vernacular school issue, warned one of Malaysia’s largest groupings of Chinese associations.
The Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall (KLSCAH) said the party would likely secure even fewer votes in the coming election for failing to ensure Chinese vernacular primary schools were treated fairly by Putrajaya.
Yesterday, Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin accused Chinese educationists today of telling “big lies” for claiming the government had sidelined Chinese vernacular schools for decades.
KLSCAH secretary-general Stanley Yong said he had “a strong feeling” that MCA would be rejected by voters, judging from the hostile reception given to MCA Youth chief Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong at a rally two weeks ago.
Wee, who is deputy education minister, was chased out of the rally after being taunted and jeered by the angry crowd, but not before he was allegedly assaulted by a disgruntled protester.
THE Education Ministry should remove all newly-assigned non Chinese-speaking teachers and those who did not have Chinese language qualification, including Malay and English teachers, from Chinese vernacular schools, the Chinese dailies reported.
The demand was among four resolutions that were passed by Dong Zong (the United Chinese School Committees Association of Malaysia) during a rally to protest against the shortage of teachers in Chinese vernacular schools.
No police report will be lodged against the person who has been accused of shoving his fist into the face of Deputy Education Minister Wee Ka Siong at a rally in Kajang yesterday.
Wee told reporters at the Parliament lobby today that he has "forgiven" the person who tried to punch him.
"I've chosen to forgive them... I was prepared for the worst. It took guts to go and listen to their voices, that's all," he said.
Chinese educationists to go ahead with rally on teacher shortage
The United Chinese School Committees Association (Dong Zong) will go ahead with a mass rally planned this Sunday to voice its concern over the shortage of teachers in Chinese primary schools.
Dong Zong said this was despite Deputy Education Minister Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong’s (picture) announcement on Wednesday about the Education Ministry’s eight long- and short-term plans to resolve the issue.
“The deputy minister announced the eight plans five days after (the second roundtable discussion on March 16), on March 21,” Dong Zong was quoted as saying today by Sin Chew Daily.
Loke says Wee and MCA Youth were only now jumping on the bandwagon.
DAP MP Anthony Loke has labelled Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong a “hypocrite” for backing today’s court ruling against the Universities and University Colleges Act (UUCA), reminding the MCA Youth chief that his party leaders had previously supported the controversial law.
The Rasah MP pointed out that when amendments to the law were tabled in Parliament in 2008, Barisan Nasional (BN) lawmakers — including MCA MPs — had not objected to them.
“Not one MCA MP fought for the repeal of Section 15 of the Act and suggestions for its amendment by Pakatan Rakyat (PR) MPs at the committee stage were also opposed by BN MPs, including those from MCA,” Loke said in a statement here.
MCA Youth chief Wee Ka Siong will not apologise to PKR Youth for blaming the movement and its information chief for fuelling speculation that led to the slander and posting of indecent photos, allegedly of the beautiful women who graced the Youth wing's recently-concluded AGM.
Lost in translation: The offending backdrop during the welcoming ceremony for Wen at Putrajaya.
Deputy Education Minister Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong has criticised the inaccurate translation on a backdrop during a ceremony to welcome Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and his entourage in Putrajaya on Thursday.
Describing the translation as nonsensical, he stressed that it did not reflect the quality of the Chinese language in Malaysia.
“The standard of our Chinese language is way above the inaccurate translation,” he said when asked to comment on the words in Chinese printed on the backdrop which was apparently a direct translation of the sentence Istiadat Sambutan Rasmi Sempena Lawatan Rasmi TYT Wen Jiabao Ke Malaysia.
The backdrop with serious syntax and grammatical errors was put up at a stage in front of the Prime Minister’s Department.
WOMEN, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil:
I think I am the happiest minister today. After being in the Cabinet for nine years, this budget has been the best one so far for the ministry. It opens up many opportunities for women to work, even if they are at home.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein:
I am glad that the prime minister has given us the allocation that we have asked for, this will be channelled to tackle problems such as reducing the crime rate and improving ties between the various agencies under the ministry. It is also a very rakyat-friendly budget which is focusing into transforming the nation into a developed nation.
PKR secretary-general and Machang MP Saifuddin Nasution:
I feel that the budget still has a lot of flaws and has not addressed issues that concern the rakyat. It is still rhetoric and the focus is more on mega projects.
Health Minister Datuk LiowTiong Lai:
Our allocation has increased form last year, which shows the government's commitment to healthcare and improving hospital facilities for the rakyat. There is also an increase of training funds to train more doctors. I would like to thank the PM on the implementation of more mobile clinics and another 25 1Malaysia clinics.
Opposition Leader and Permatang Pauh MP Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim:
It's definitely an election budget, there is still no emphasis to assure the public of a new more transparent model. It still does not address issues such like the failure to attract foreign investments and it is still riddled with mega projects that will benefit cronies, In my view it is a budget that focuses too much on the goodies without being substantial.
Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen:
It is a very holistic budget and am glad that there are many benefits provided for women such as the extended maternity leave. I am also very supportive of the minimum wage. Hopefully, with the abolishing of import duties for the luxury (shopping) items, we will be very competitive in terms of tourism and I hope this will be extended until the year 2020 for tourists are estimated to spend a total of RM50 billion for shopping.
PAS deputy president and Bachok MP Nasharuddin Mat Isa:
The budget has too many incentives that are not needed by the rakyat, such as the abolishing of import duties for lingerie and luxury items when more issues on costs that burden the rakyat such as the high cost for toll was not really dealt with. It sounds good that the toll won't be increased for five years but after this five years what will happen?
Deputy Education Minister Datuk Wee Ka Siong:
It is good that now school children will be supplied with vitamins and supplements which will complement the 1Malaysia milk programme. It shows that the government cares and is putting emphasis on the children's health.
Klang MP Charles Santiago:
If you look at the introduction of the Budget, it’s RM212.13 billion ... out of that 76% goes for operating budget and 21% for development.
How are you going to reach your 2020 high income economy when your development expenditure is so little?
But the good part of the budget is the commission of the wage consultative body, where multi-stakeholders play a part.
And why do we need a hundred-storey building in KL?
Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai (centre) flanked by an emotional Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun (left) and an equally teary Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong at the press conference at Wisma MCA today
L-R) Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun (dropped), Datuk Seri Liow tiong lai and MCA Youth chief Wee Ka Siong (dropped) at MCA Hq today.
Wee and Chew Sack from CC with other 9.
The MCA Youth and Wanita chiefs were among nine leaders - all aligned to renegade vice-president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai - dropped from the party presidential council today.
The nine are Youth chief Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong (Deputy Education Minister), Wanita chief Datuk Paduka Chew Mei Fun (Deputy Women, Family and Community Development Minister), ex-organising secretary Yoo Wei How, ex-deputy organising secretary Gan Hong Su, ex-MCA Information chief Lee Wei Kiat, Deputy Higher Education Minister Dr Hou Kok Chung, Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Chor Chee Heung, Deputy Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Wee Jeck Seng and central committee (CC) member Wong Nai Chee.
The unprecedented removal of the two wing chiefs was announced by president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat after a four-hour CC meeting in the party headquarters.
Ong made the reshuffle under Article 46 of the MCA Constitution that reads: "There shall be established from amongst the members of the CC a council which shall consist of the president, deputy president, one or more vice-presidents, the secretary-general, the treasurer-general, the national organising secretary and not more than 10 other members appointed by the president in his absolute discretion, who likewise may terminate such appointment if and when he thinks fit."
The newly appointed council members are: Deputy Secretary-General Datuk Loke Yuen Yow, former minister Datuk Seri Tan Chai Ho, former Penang exco member Tan Cheng Liang, Deputy Foreign Minister Datuk Lee Chee Leong and Deputy Information, Communications and Culture Minister Senator Heng Seai Kie.
Others are CC members Gan Ping Sieu, Datuk Ti Lian Ker, Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon and Wong Hock Aun.
The incumbents retained in the council are Ong, deputy president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek, secretary-general Datuk Wong Foon Meng, treasurer-general Tan Sri Tee Hock Seng and four elected vice-presidents - Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha, Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen, Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai and Johore's Tan Kok Hong.
Ong said: "The presidetial council is reshuffled under Article 46 of the party constitution. It is normal for the reshuffle to take place based on current needs. It is unfair to say that they (the former council members) are axed because, as and when necessary, we need to do a reshuffle," he told a press conference.
Asked whether the reshuffle was part of the Greater Unity Plan (GUP) formulated by him and Chua, Ong reiterated that the plan was not a mathematical model meant for power sharing and "it is time to get the initiatives identified under the plan to work".
Ong said the CC also voted to reject the Nov 28 extraordinary general meeting (EGM) requisitioned by Liow's faction, calling for fresh party elections and seeking to nullify the decisions made by the president on the appointment of CC members after the Oct 10 EGM.
He said a total of 23 CC members voted against the EGM because they agreed that the resolutions were not only unconstitutional but the notices sent out to the delegates were inappropriate as the requisitionists had exploited the party's letterhead in the notices.
Ong also announced that Chua would head a special committee to study the implementation of direct party elections and Tee to head a special committee on the distribution of party funds to the divisions.
In a separate press conference later, Liow said the decision to reshuffle the presidential council made by the CC had "made our hearts bleed".
"We are very sad that this has happened to our CC members. MCA is a family at war now and it is engaging the politics of slash and burn.
"The president has disowned the Youth and Wanita wings in the presidential council. This is a serious matter and it can be seen as the last straw that broke camel's back," he said.
Liow said Ong appointed his own people and eliminated those who disagreed with him so that he can have the absolute power in the council and "absolute power corrupts absolutely".
He said the council decided on important party matters and the wing chiefs cannot be left out.
"The party is at the crossroads now. I urge central delegates to rise and protect democracy in the party by attending the Nov 28 EGM. This is the time to make a decision to change the party for the better.
"MCA must be returned to the politics of values and uphold the fundamental democratic principle. The party must be the catalyst of change, and more importantly of hope for the people and not a soap opera of irrelevance on a path of personal destruction," he added.
Wee and Chew wept in the midst of the press conference.
Wee said Ong's decision to exclude the wing chief was unprecedented in the party history.
"When Ong was a Youth chief, he was not in line with former president Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik but he was still included in the council . It is a democratic process to give different views and the wings must be respected although it is the prerogative of the president," he said.
Wee said he and Chew will continue to soldier on to revive the party and also urged central delegates to come out and vote on the Nov 28 EGM.
Ong is Corrupted Power-Liow said
Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai today blasted MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat after the latter reshuffled the presidential council and dropped eight members seen to be aligned to Liow.
In a dramatic press conference which saw axed former presidential council members Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong and Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun shed tears, Liow spoke of lofty principles such as democracy and lamented the alleged lack of it in MCA.
“The president elected his own people and eliminated those who disagreed with him so he can have absolute power in the presidential council and absolute power corrupts absolutely,” said Liow.
“MCA is a family at war. MCA is engaging in the politics of slash and burn. The president disowned the youth and wanita. This is a serious matter. And this can be seen as the last straw that broke the camel’s back.”
Liow urged MCA delegates to “rise up” and turn up in full force at the extraordinary general meeting (EGM) on November 28 that is proposing fresh party polls.
“This is the time to make a decision to change party for better. MCA must return to the politics of values and uphold the fundamental democratic principles,” he said.
Liow however acknowledged that Ong was within his rights as president to appoint new members to the council.
Wee, who used up a pile of tissues during the press conference, pointed out that when the MCA president was the youth chief, he was still elected to the presidential council even though he had conflicts with then president Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik.
He vowed to fight on to “return democracy” and prevent the party from being “monopolised” by just a few.
A visibly agitated Chew likened the dropping of the youth and women’s wing chiefs from the presidential council as making the “MCA without wings”.
Ong however defended the move saying that “as and when we need to reshuffle, we will do it.”
The sweeping revamp of the presidential council could trigger a wave of sympathy for Liow and his allies although response to the EGM that they have called has been lukewarm so far.
Liow however says he is confident of getting the required quorum of one third of the 2,377 central delegates for the EGM to be valid.
“I have been going around the country and receiving warm and strong support for the EGM,” he told reporters.
Sources say however that the situation may not be as bad as it seems as behind closed doors in the central committee meeting, Liow, Ong and Dr Chua had indicated that they would try and resolve party issues eliciting a clapping of tables from central committee members to show “happiness.”
The source also maintained that even though Wee who is deputy education minister, deputy higher education minister Hou Kok Chung and deputy home minister Datuk Wira Chor Chee Heung were dropped from the presidential council, it is likely they will be invited back to attend meetings as the council is a platform for the party to discuss government cabinet matters.
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